pop the question

Cultural  

1. To “pop the question” is to propose marriage: “They have been going out for so long; I wonder when he'll pop the question.”

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pop the question Idioms  

1. Propose marriage, as in He picked Valentine's Day to pop the question. [Early 1700s]

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Example Sentences

The luxury marriage proposal business is booming in Paris with international clients happy to pay thousands to pop the question in the most romantic way possible in the City of Love.

From Barron's • Feb. 12, 2026

A family source also confirmed the engagement to People, adding that Holland had been meaning to pop the question “for a while.”

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 6, 2025

Sharleen Roscoe, from Barrow, Cumbria, had decided to pop the question to Kelly McArdle eight months ago, when she bought the tickets to the Sunderland gig at the Stadium of Light last weekend.

From BBC • Jun. 16, 2023

During February, about 10 patrons pop the question each week.

From New York Times • Feb. 14, 2023

“Don’t worry. He’s not going to pop the question or anything,” I reply coolly, though my pulse quickens.

From "Love, Hate & Other Filters" by Samira Ahmed